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Perfect Stranger Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Vocab question no. 61: misfortune vs predicament

Dear Users,

What do you think the difference between a misfortune and a predicament is?

I'm wondering how serious both of them are. Is losing your car keys a misfortune or a predicament? Is breaking an arm a misfortune or a predicament? I could come up with a lot of exemplary situations.

Thanks
  

Top answer

A "predicament" is a tricky situation that makes things awkward or difficult, or calls for a difficult decision or action, or something like that. g. ); the actual fact of losing them could be a misfortune.

— GPY

  • A "predicament" is a tricky situation that makes things awkward or difficult, or calls for a difficult decision or action, or something like that.
  • g.
  • ); the actual fact of losing them could be a misfortune.
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4 Answers
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A "predicament" is a tricky situation that makes things awkward or difficult, or calls for a difficult decision or action, or something like that. You can be in a predicament because you lost your car keys (e.g. how are you going to get home?); the actual fact of losing them could be a misfortune.
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Thank you GPY. Hmm... Sounds like a predicament might take the form of a dilemma... Right?
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Perfect StrangerSounds like a predicament might take the form of a dilemma...
In the case when a difficult decision must be made about what to do, yes, the two can be similar. However, not all predicaments are dilemmas.
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Perfect StrangerWhat do you think the difference between a misfortune and a predicament is?
A misfortune has (usually) already happened. I didn't realize the pan had just come out of the oven, and I burnt my hand when I picked it up.

A predicament is a problematic situation where future action is required to solve the problem. I had no ove
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